Eye-cap



Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNITED N STATES EYE-CAP cane M.

Whitman, `Iamaica., N. Y., and Lucy B. McDonnell, Washington, D. C.

Application April 12, 1933. Serial No. $65,780 s claim. (c1. z -1,5)

) The present invention relates to improvements in eye-caps and has for an object to provide an improved eye-cap adapted to do away with crows feet and wrinkles caused by squinting. Squinting is caused by the eyes being constantly exposed to light even when asleep. A darkened room has been the only solution for complete eye rest. Physicians and hospitals have used bandages-across the eyes, in addition to thedarkened m room, in severe cases, showing how necessary it is to shut out the minutest ray of light for cornu plete relaxation of the nerves of the eye. The major object of the invention is toprovide an improved eye-cap which may be quickly 5 and easily applied over the eyes and which will eectlvely exclude all light, enabling complete rest of the eyes during either day-light or night.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved eye-cap which, in addition to 2@ completely shutting on all light to the eyes, will give complete freedom to open or close the eyes without any pressure on the face and without touching the sensitive eye-lids or lashes and With-u out binding the head or ears.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described herein1 after and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an improved eye-cap constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the device.

Figure e is a cross section taken on the line 9g-4 in Figure l.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a modied form of device.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of thesame.

Figure 'l is a longitudinal section taken on the lline l-Ji in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8 8 also in Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on an enlarged scale prior to the connection of the eye-cap with the fabric frame, and

so Figure 10 is a similar view showing the conislight in weight but of a close texture whereby to exclude light by reason of its physical structure. The material may also be of a black color which will further aid in the exclusion of light.

The material is so made up as to provide two eye-caps 11 and 12 which are held in place in .lo iront of the eyes by means of a tape, band'or other support 13. The band or tape is shown in Figure 2 as having an adjustable buckle or connection 14 by which the diameter of the combined head band and device may be adjusted to fit various heads. 1

The caps are connected together, preferably ins tegrally. by a center piece 15 which is cut straight up the center to middle of nose, which when on the face opens and forms V shaped lapels which hug the opposite sides of the nose whereby to provide an eective light-tight construction. The upper portion of the center piece is also preferably projected upwardly into a pointed or inverted V projection 18 to ascend to a high75 point upon the forehead thus giving a wide area of purchase against the forehead also for cutting on all light. The eye-caps ll and l2 are originally marked out in substantially oval form at opposite sides of the center piece 15 and the 80 material is gathered in a substantially ovate outline 19 having a circumferential length sumcient to extend all the way about the eye cavity without encroaching too close upon the eye socket, thereby allowing of ample distance of the gathered portion from the eye itself so that there will be no likelihood of anypart of the eye-cap touching the eye-lids, it being further understood that the gathering of.' the material enables the eye-caps to bulge out to a very great degree.

It will be seen that the device may be made oi I a single piece of material and of a s'mglethickness of material and therefore such device may be made exceedingly light in weight so as to be substantially of no burden whatsoever to the wearer and to minimize as far as possible any sensation on the part oi the wearer of having anything on the face. Moreover, the fact that the device is enabled to be made from a single uncimess or material imparts to the device a 10 flexibility, not permissible with card-board or stii! masks, to conform to all local parts of the face about the eye and thus to have a highlight excluding property. Moreover, with thedevice F so made, only a very light negligible and unfelt 10 pressure may be exerted by the head band 13 in binding the device in a light-tight fashion about the eye.

By virtue of the formation of the eye-caps and the connection of the strapV 13 with the apex no i portions 23, the strain exerted by the strap 13 will be distributed along the ovate edges 19 or tapes 24 causing such tapes or edges to closely adhere to the f ace, the pressure tending to elongate the ovate openings and thus to squeeze in the side portions thereof causing very close adherence all around the edges and adding to the light-tight quality of the device.

(Referring more particularly to Figures 5 to 10 inclusive, the eye-caps 11* and 12'A are in this instance formed in two separate pieces of fabric such as silk, sateen or other desired materials shaped in ovate form and such separated eyecaps are attached to a frame, the frame being formed of ovate shaped members 25 and 26. The members 25 and 26 will preferably have an ovate outer contour and also ovate inner openings which may be reinforced by the tape 27 which is bent in U-shaped form, as shown in Figures 9 and 10,'and stitched to the frame as shown. The two eye-pieces may also be preferably reinforced along their edges by- U-shaped tape 28 stitched thereto, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, and then the two tapes 27 and 28 are stitched together, as illustrated in Figure 10, or ii.' vthe reinforcing is not used, then the edges of the eye-caps are stitched directly to the -frame about the ovate openings. The ends of the strap or band 13a are stitched or otherwise secured to the ends of the frame at the apexes of the ovate portions of the frame and eye-caps and the effect of the stretching action of the band 13 will be the same as previously described. In other words, it will cause a very close conformation of the frame and the eye-caps about the eyes while the gathered eye-caps 11a and 12l will stand out for a considerable distance from the eye thus leaving the eye-lids and the eye-balls free to move without any possible interference.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically de- -for contacting with the face, and a headx band connected to the apex outer portions of the ovate edges.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of eye-caps composed of a limp material and having their entire peripheral edges gathered, whereby the eye-caps in their entirety are caused to stand away from the eyes and eye lids, and flanges lying against the face outwardly of the eye-caps. f

3. In a device of the character described, a

pair of substantially oval-shaped eye-caps having their rounded portions adjacent one another and their apices remote from one another, said eye-caps having their entire peripheral edges gathered to cause the eye-caps in their entirety to stand away from the eyes and eye lids, oval shape flanges extending at right angles outwardly from the eye-caps for engaging the face. said iianges having their rounded portions adjacent one another and 4their apices remote from one another, a nose piece connecting the rounded portions of one eye-cap and flange to the rounded lportions of the other eye-cap and flange, and

a band-encircling the head and having its ends secured to the respective apices of the eye-caps and anges.

CALLE`v M. WHITMAN. LUCY B. MCDONNEIL. 

